Chewing gum containing cuphea oil

ABSTRACT

Improved chewing gum formulations and bases, as well as methods of producing chewing gum and bases are provided. The chewing gum includes seed oils from the plant genus Cuphea. These Cuphea seed oils can be used in the base and/or gum as a plasticizer. In an embodiment, Cuphea oil is added to gum formulations replacing a small or large quantity of other fats, oils, and waxes. A variety of base and chewing gum formulations including Cuphea oil can be created and/or utilized pursuant to the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to chewing gum. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved formulations for chewing gum and bases.

Chewing gum generally consists of a water insoluble gum base and a water soluble portion along with flavors. The water soluble portion and flavors dissipate during chewing and the gum base is retained in the mouth throughout the chew.

The insoluble gum base generally comprises elastomers, resins, fats and oils, softeners, and inorganic fillers. Elastomers can include synthetic elastomers including polyisobutylene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl acetate, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinyl acetate--vinyl laurate copolymers, and combinations thereof. Natural elastomers that can be used include natural rubber.

The gum base can include elastomer plasticizers. Such elastomer plasticizers can include natural rosin esters, as well as other elastomer plasticizers. Additionally, the gum base can include fillers/texturizers and softeners/emulsifiers. Softeners are added to chewing gum in order to optimize the chewability and mouth feel of the gum. Softeners/emulsifiers that are typically used include tallow, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, and combinations thereof.

In addition to a water insoluble gum base portion, a typical chewing gum composition includes a water soluble portion and one or more flavoring agents. The water soluble portion can include bulk sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, flavoring agents, softeners, emulsifiers, colors, acidulants, fillers, antioxidants, and other components that provide desirable attributes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides improved chewing gum formulations and bases, as well as methods of producing chewing gum and bases. Pursuant to the present invention, chewing gum is provided that includes Cuphea oil as a plasticizer. In an embodiment, Cuphea oil is added to gum base formulations replacing a small or large quantity of fats, oils, or waxes.

In an embodiment, Cuphea oil replaces, in a gum base formula, at least some of the conventional saturated fats. The Cuphea oil can also be used to improve flavor quality by replacing a portion or all of the other saturated fats in the base formulas. Cuphea oil may also control flavor release and reduce harshness/bitterness of the flavor.

A variety of base and chewing gum formulations including Cuphea oil can be produced and/or utilized pursuant to the present invention. The base formulations of the present invention may be conventional bases that include wax or are wax-free, tacky or non-tacky and/or bubble gum-type bases. The gum formulations can be low or high moisture formulations containing low or high amounts of moisture-containing syrup. Cuphea oil can also be used in low sugar and non-sugar containing gum formulations made with sorbitol, mannitol, other polyols, and non-sugar carbohydrates. Non-sugar formulations can include low or high moisture sugar-free chewing gums.

In an embodiment, Cuphea oil is used in the chewing gum formulation to replace typical plasticizers that are used in chewing gum formulations. For example, Cuphea oil can be used to replace glycerin, lecithin, glycerol triacetate, acetylated monoglycerides, and mono- and di-glycerides.

In an embodiment, the Cuphea oil is used as in a chewing gum formulation combined with other softeners, emulsifiers, and plasticizing agents. If desired, Cuphea oil can be used alone or combined with an inert material which may be added in a dry form. The Cuphea oil softener can also be added to the flavor as a carrier for its use in chewing gum.

The Cuphea oil when used according to the present invention, affords the chewing gum an improved texture, improved shelf life, and improved flavor quality. Even though Cuphea oil is similar to other fats and oils in some respects, Cuphea oil has a lower caloric value and creates a resultant chewing gum product that has a high consumer-acceptability.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an improved chewing gum formulation.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved base that can be used to create chewing gum.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved chewing gum plasticizer.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved method for creating chewing gum.

Furthermore, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a chewing gum having improved texture.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a chewing gum having an improved shelf life.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a chewing gum having improved flavor quality.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides improved chewing gum formulations and base formulations. Pursuant to the present invention, Cuphea oil is added to chewing gum and base formulations. Cuphea oil can be used in chewing gum formulations and/or bases. Preferably the Cuphea oil can be used as a plasticizer in the gum base.

Most triglycerides used in gum bases are saturated or unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides. These fatty acids include: stearic acid (C18); lauric acid(C12); myristic acid (C14) ; palmitic acid (C16); oleic acid (C18:1 unsaturated); and linoleic acid (C18:2 unsaturated). These common fatty acids are derived from saturated soybean oil, olive oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, corn oil, palm kernel oil, safflower oil, lard, tallow, and a wide variety of short and long chain fatty acids.

Generally, these fats or lipids are hydrogenated to make them saturated for use in gum base. Saturation of the lipids significantly improves their oxidation stability, which is very important for shelf life of gum base and gum. When oil is hydrogenated it becomes a solid at room temperature, thus a fat.

The natural fatty acid distribution of the above identified fats is dependent on its source.

The inventors have discovered that unique fatty acid compositions, for use in chewing gum, are various members of the plant genus Cuphea (Lythraceae). Cuphea produces the lipid triglycerides: caprylic (C8); capric (C10); lauric (C12); and myristic (C14).

The following tables provide the seed oil compositions of some of the various Cuphea species:

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fatty acid composition of some Cuphea seed oils.                                        Distribution (% of total fatty acids)                                            8:0      10:0    12:0  14:0                                         Species    caprylic capric  lauric                                                                               myristic                                                                             Others                                 ______________________________________                                         C. painteri                                                                               73.0     20.4    0.2   0.3   6.1                                    C. hookeriana                                                                             65.1     23.7    0.1   0.2   10.9                                   C. koehneana                                                                              0.2      95.3    1.0   0.3   3.2                                    C. lanceolata       87.5    2.1   1.4   9.0                                    C. viscosissima                                                                           9.1      75.5    3.0   1.3   11.1                                   C. carthagenensis   5.3     81.4  4.7   8.6                                    C. laminuligera     17.1    62.6  9.5   10.8                                   C. wrightii         29.4    53.9  5.1   11.6                                   C. lutea   0.4      29.4    37.7  11.1  21.4                                   C. epilobiifolia    0.3     19.6  67.9  12.2                                   C. stigulosa                                                                              0.9      18.3    13.8  45.2  21.8                                   Coconut    8        7       48    18    19                                     ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Seed Oil Composition of Cuphea Species                                                    Fatty acid composition. %                                           Species      C.sub.8                                                                               C.sub.10   C.sub.12                                                                            C.sub.14                                   ______________________________________                                         C. painteri  65.0   24.0       0.2  0.4                                        C. hookeriana                                                                               50.2   25.4       3.6  1.0                                        C. cyanea    67.8   24.4       --   --                                         C. pinetorum 48.1   40.3       0.4  0.4                                        C. ignea     0.9    87.1       1.2  0.6                                        C. caeciliae --     70.9       11.1 2.6                                        C. llavea    1.5    87.5       1.6  0.7                                        C. paucipetala                                                                              1.2    87.4       2.0  0.8                                        C. ferrisiae 1.2    82.2       1.9  1.0                                        C. graciliflora                                                                             --     4.8        73.0 9.6                                        C. tolucana  --     23.0       63.3 4.5                                        C. lobophora --     10.9       66.2 13.1                                       C. hyssopifolia                                                                             0.2    7.3        78.5 4.8                                        C. parsonia  --     7.9        73.9 4.4                                        C. calophylla                                                                               0.1    5.0        85.0 6.8                                        C. palustris 19.7   1.4        2.0  63.7                                       C. aequipetala                                                                              24.6   1.3        1.8  56.0                                       C. epilobiifolia                                                                            --     0.3        31.8 55.3                                       ______________________________________                                    

As indicated above in table 2, some species of Cuphea provide very high levels of C8, C10 , C12, and C14 fatty acid triglycerides. These fatty acid triglycerides are commonly referred to as medium chain fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides or MCTs. Although medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) have been used throughout the food and pharmaceutical industry for many years, they have been manufactured by fractionation of coconut oil.

Many species from the genus Cuphea(Lythraceae) have the potential as sources of medium chain triglycerides (Wilson et al. 1960, Miller et al. 1964, Wolf et al. 1983, Graham and Kleiman 1986, Graham et al. 1981). These plants are native to the New World, from Southern U.S. to Northern South America. Most are herbaceous annuals that will grow in many locations.

Table 1 illustrates the diversity in fatty acid compositions available in Cuphea germplasm. While there is some variation from accession to accession, the table indicates species that are rich in specific single fatty acids. Cuphea painteri, for instance, is very rich in caprylic (8:0) acid (73%) while C.carthagenensis has lauric acid (12:0), as its major fatty acid (81%). Cuphea koehneana is probably the best example of a monoacid seed oil, with more than 95% of its acyl groups as capric acid. As a source for lauric acid, Cuphea species have more to offer than coconut oil (Table 1), because the concentration of lauric acid in the oil is potentially much greater. Isolation of single fatty acids should be easily accomplished and tailor-made fatty acid compositions should be possible.

It has previously been shown that medium chain triglycerides have unique properties for chewing gum (PCT Publications No. 95/32634, WO 95/32635, and WO 95/32634 published Dec. 7, 1995). MCTs are clear, tasteless, odorless products that have a low viscosity and good spreadability. Also MCTs are more readily digestible and are used as a vegetable oil component for medical foods.

Due to MCTs tasteless and odorless properties MCTs provide a good flow carrier and solvent and can be used in candy as a release agent. MCTs have been shown to be an excellent softener and plasticizer in a gum base and chewing gum. Medium chain triglycerides of Cuphea oil are saturated and therefore have a low potential for oxidation.

For MCTs, a GRAS affirmation petition has been accepted by the U.S. FDA under the name captrin and can be used in a variety of foods. However, Cuphea oils have not been food approved, but does contain the same fatty acid triglycerides of MCTs or captrin.

Pursuant to the present invention, seed oils from Cuphea oils can be used in a variety of different chewing gum formulations. Cuphea oils can also be used in a variety of gum base formulations. In this regard Cuphea oil can be used as a base plasticizer or softener.

Preferably Cuphea oil will comprise about 0.01% to approximately 5% by weight of the chewing gum formulation. In a gum base formulation, Cuphea oil may be used at about 0.02% to approximately 40% of the gum base formulation. It has been shown that MCTs make a gum base softer than other long chain or short chain triglycerides, and the natural seeds oils of Cuphea which contains MCTs can have a similar effect.

Cuphea seed oils that contain high levels of capric and caprylic fatty acids are preferred. Most preferably, Cuphea oils that contain high amounts of both capric and caprylic fatty acids should be used. The oils from the species C.painteri, C.hookeriana, C.cyanea, and C.pinetorum are most preferred.

Chewing gum generally consists of a water insoluble gum base, a water soluble portion, and flavors.

The insoluble gum base generally comprises elastomers, resins, fats and oils, softeners, and inorganic fillers. The gum base may or may not include wax. The insoluble gum base can constitute approximately 5 to about 95 percent, by weight, of the chewing gum, more commonly, the gum base comprises 10 to about 50 percent of the gum, and in some preferred embodiments, 20 to about 35 percent, by weight, of the chewing gum.

In an embodiment, the chewing gum base of the present invention contains about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 4 to about 35 weight percent filler, about 5 to about 40 weight percent softener, and optional minor amounts (about one percent or less) of miscellaneous ingredients such as colorants, antioxidants, etc. Preferably, the Cuphea oil does not comprise more than 40% by weight of the gum base.

Synthetic elastomers may include, but are not limited to, polyisobutylene with a GPC weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 95,000, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl elastomer), styrene-butadiene copolymers having styrene-butadiene ratios of about 1:3 to about 3:1, polyvinyl acetate having a GPC weight average molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 90,000, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate copolymer having vinyl laurate content of about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of the copolymer, and combinations thereof.

Preferred ranges are, for polyisobutylene, 50,000 to 80,000 GPC weight average molecular weight, for styrene-butadiene, 1:1 to 1:3 bound styrene-butadiene, for polyvinyl acetate, 10,000 to 65,000 GPC weight average molecular weight with the higher molecular weight polyvinyl acetates typically used in bubble gum base, and for vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate, vinyl laurate content of 10-45 percent.

Natural elastomers may include natural rubber such as smoked or liquid latex and guayule as well as natural gums such as jelutong, lechi caspi, perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero, rosindinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, and combinations thereof. The preferred synthetic elastomer and natural elastomer concentrations vary depending on whether the chewing gum in which the base is used is adhesive or conventional, bubble gum or regular gum, as discussed below. Preferred natural elastomers include jelutong, chicle, sorva and massaranduba balata.

Elastomer plasticizers may include, but are not limited to, natural rosin esters, often called estergums, such as glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, glycerol esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, methyl and partially hydrogenated methyl esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin; synthetics such as terpene resins derived from alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and/or d-limonene; and any suitable combinations of the foregoing. The preferred elastomer plasticizers will also vary depending on the specific application, and on the type of elastomer which is used.

Fillers/texturizers may include magnesium and calcium carbonate, ground limestone, silicate types such as magnesium and aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, talc, titanium oxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphate, cellulose polymers, such as wood, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, in addition to Cuphea oil, pursuant to the present invention, softeners/emulsifiers may include tallow, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, mono-, di- and triglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, fatty acids (e.g. stearic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids), and combinations thereof.

Colorants and whiteners may include FD&C-type dyes and lakes, fruit and vegetable extracts, titanium dioxide, and combinations thereof.

The base may or may not include wax. An example of a wax-free gum base is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,500, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to a water insoluble gum base portion, a typical chewing gum composition includes a water soluble bulk portion and one or more flavoring agents. The water soluble portion can include bulk sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, flavoring agents, softeners, emulsifiers, colors, acidulants, fillers, antioxidants, and other components that provide desired attributes.

The softeners, which are also known as plasticizers and plasticizing agents, generally constitute between approximately 0.5 to about 15% by weight of the chewing gum. The softeners may, in addition to including Cuphea oil, include glycerin, lecithin, and combinations thereof. Aqueous sweetener solutions such as those containing sorbitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, corn syrup and combinations thereof, may also be used as softeners and binding agents in chewing gum.

Bulk sweeteners include both sugar and sugarless components. Bulk sweeteners typically constitute 5 to about 95% by weight of the chewing gum, more typically, 20 to 80% by weight, and more commonly, 30 to 60% by weight of the gum.

Sugar sweeteners generally include saccharide-containing components commonly known in the chewing gum art, including, but not limited to, sucrose, dextrose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, fructose, levulose, galactose, corn syrup solids, and the like, alone or in combination.

Sorbitol can be used as a sugarless sweetener. Additionally, sugarless sweeteners can include, but are not limited to, other sugar alcohols such as mannitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, maltitol, lactitol, and the like, alone or in combination.

High intensity artificial sweeteners can also be used in combination with the above. Preferred sweeteners include, but are not limited to sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, and the like, alone or in combination. In order to provide longer lasting sweetness and flavor perception, it may be desirable to encapsulate or otherwise control the release of at least a portion of the artificial sweetener. Such techniques as wet granulation, wax granulation, spray drying, spray chilling, fluid bed coating, coacervation, and fiber extension may be used to achieve the desired release characteristics.

Usage level of the artificial sweetener will vary greatly and will depend on such factors as potency of the sweetener, rate of release, desired sweetness of the product, level and type of flavor used and cost considerations. Thus, the active level of artificial sweetener may vary from 0.02 to about 8%. When carriers used for encapsulation are included, the usage level of the encapsulated sweetener will be proportionately higher.

Combinations of sugar and/or sugarless sweeteners may be used in chewing gum. Additionally, the softener may also provide additional sweetness such as with aqueous sugar or alditol solutions.

If a low calorie gum is desired, a low caloric bulking agent can be used. Example of low caloric bulking agents include: polydextrose; Raftilose, Raftilin; Fructooligosaccharides (NutraFlora); Palatinose oligosaccharide; Guar Gum Hydrolysate (Sun Fiber); or indigestible dextrin (Fibersol). However, other low calorie bulking agents can be used.

A variety of flavoring agents can be used. The flavor can be used in amounts of approximately 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the gum, and preferably, about 0.2 to about 5%. Flavoring agents may include essential oils, synthetic flavors or mixtures thereof including, but not limited to, oils derived from plants and fruits such as citrus oils, fruit essences, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, other mint oils, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, anise and the like. Artificial flavoring agents and components may also be used. Natural and artificial flavoring agents may be combined in any sensorially acceptable fashion.

The present invention, it is believed, can be used with a variety of processes for manufacturing chewing gum.

Chewing gum is generally manufactured by sequentially adding the various chewing gum ingredients to commercially available mixers known in the art. After the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, the chewing gum mass is discharged from the mixer and shaped into the desired form, such as by rolling into sheets and cutting into sticks, extruding into chunks, or casting into pellets.

Generally, the ingredients are mixed by first melting the gum base and adding it to the running mixer. The gum base may alternatively be melted in the mixer. Color and emulsifiers can be added at this time.

A chewing gum softener such as glycerin can be added next along with part of the bulk portion. Further parts of the bulk portion may then be added to the mixer. Flavoring agents are typically added with the final part of the bulk portion. The entire mixing process typically takes 5 to 15 minutes, although longer mixing times are sometimes required.

Cuphea oil may be added to chewing gum during manufacture of the base. Cuphea oil may be added at any time during processing of the base, but preferably, near the end of the batch to act as a softener.

Cuphea oil may be added to conventional bases that contain wax or are wax-free bases, that may or may not contain polyvinyl acetate or terpene resins, or bases that contain natural gums or synthetic bases, bases that are non-tacky, or are bubble gum bases.

At levels of approximately 0.02% to about 40% by weight of the gum base, Cuphea oil may replace some or most of the partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated vegetable oils, mono- and di-glycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, or other softeners used in the gum base. Cuphea oil may also be blended with the other softeners in the gum base and added during the base manufacturing process. A chewing gum base made with Cuphea oil will have greater oxidative stability due to the presence of Cuphea oil, and will give chewing gum a cleaner taste due to a reduction of off-tasting fats and oils.

Cuphea oil may also be added to a chewing gum formulation in its liquid form or may be mixed with other gum or base softeners and added to a gum formulation during processing. Cuphea oil may be added during the gum manufacturing at any time during processing, but preferably, early in the batch to allow thorough mixing with the gum base.

Cuphea oil can be added to the chewing gum formulation so that it comprises approximately 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the chewing gum formulation. In a preferred embodiment, Cuphea oil comprises approximately 0.02% to about 2% and most preferably, about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight of the chewing gum formulation. Cuphea oil may be blended with other softeners such as lecithin, glycerol triacetate, acetylated monoglycerides, mono- and di-glycerides, or other vegetable oils and fats that may be added to a gum formulation. When a solid softener is used, such as lecithin, Cuphea oil may act as a carrier or solvent for the particulate lecithin. Lecithin when mixed with Cuphea oil may allow for an easier dispersion of lecithin in a gum formulation. This should be contrasted with soy bean oil that is typically used as a carrier for lecithin.

Cuphea oil may also be blended with a wide range of natural and artificial flavor oils and act as a carrier for flavor oils. Cuphea oil can be an excellent carrier for flavors such as spearmint, peppermint, cinnamon, wintergreen, and fruit flavors. The level of Cuphea oil mixed with flavors can vary over a wide range from approximately 1% to about 99% by weight since most gum flavors are oil soluble.

Cuphea oil can also act as a carrier for artificial and natural colors such as in FD&C lake dispersions and natural colors like betacarotene. Cuphea oil can reduce the off-taste associated with some fat/oil carriers and allows higher usage of color.

Cuphea oil may also be used as a release agent for encapsulated flavors. Cuphea oil can be added to an encapsulating media to allow for faster and easier dissolution of the encapsulating media.

By way of example, and not limitation, examples of the present invention will now be given:

EXAMPLES Example No. 1

A method for measuring plasticization effect is the Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of a material or a blend of materials. If a material acts as a plasticizer to another material, the Tg will be modified accordingly.

In the case of the elastomer butyl rubber, which is an isobutyl-isoprene copolymer, the Tg of a mixture of 25 grams of butyl rubber and 24 grams of calcium carbonate, which is inert, was -61.3° C. The mixture was blended on a Haake Internal Mixer at 130° C., 60 rpm for 20 minutes, and analyzed to obtain the Tg by DSC from -160° C. to +100° C. at 20° C./minute.

The results shown below are for various materials used as plasticizers added to the above mixture at a level of 11 grams of plasticizer.

    ______________________________________                                                          Tg     Major Fatty Acid                                       ______________________________________                                         Comparison-butyl rubber only                                                                      -61.3° C.                                                                        --                                                 Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs)                                                                 -68.3° C.                                                                        C8/C10                                             Cuphea Lanceolata seed oil                                                                        -66.6° C.                                                                        C10                                                Cuphea wrightii seed oil                                                                          -64.8° C.                                                                        C10/C12                                            Coconut oil        -63.3° C.                                                                        C12/C14/C16                                        Hydrogenated cottonseed oil                                                                       -62.1° C.                                                                        C16/C18                                            ______________________________________                                    

The results indicate that a typical plasticizer/softener for gum base, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, reduces the Tg of butyl rubber by only 0.8° C. A better plasticizer/softener is coconut oil which contains a significant amount of MCTs and reduces the Tg by 2.0° C. The two species of Cuphea seed oil which contains MCTs are better plasticizers than coconut oil and hydrogenated cottonseed oil.

In addition, other elastomers would also be effected in a similar manner as butyl rubber, such as the synthetic elastomer, styrene butadine rubber (SBR). Natural rubbers such as chiole, jelutong, sorva, and Massaranduba Balata would probably also be more plasticized with Cuphea oil.

Contemplative Examples

The following contemplative examples of the invention and comparative examples are provided by way of explanation and illustration.

The formulas listed in Table I comprise various contemplative sugar formulas in which Cuphea oil can be added at various levels to gum.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         (WEIGHT PERCENT)                                                                      Ex. 1 Ex. 2   Ex. 3   Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6                                 ______________________________________                                         Sugar    61.55   61.5    61.35 62.5  62.0  61.0                                Base     19.2    19.2    19.2  19.2  19.2  19.2                                Corn Syrup                                                                              16.9    16.9    16.9  16.9  16.9  16.9                                Peppermint                                                                              0.9     0.9     0.9   0.9   0.9   0.9                                 Flavor                                                                         Glycerin 1.4     1.4     1.4   0.0   0.0   0.0                                 Cuphea oil                                                                              0.05    0.10    0.25  0.50  1.0   2.0                                 ______________________________________                                    

In Table 2, dextrose monohydrate is added to a sugar formula with various levels of Cuphea oil.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 7 Ex. 8   Ex. 9   Ex. 10                                                                               Ex. 11                                                                               Ex. 12                                ______________________________________                                         Sugar    55.65   55.6    55.45 56.2  55.7  54.7                                Base     19.2    19.2    19.2  19.2  19.2  19.2                                Corn Syrup                                                                              12.9    12.9    12.9  12.9  12.9  12.9                                Glycerin 1.4     1.4     1.4   0.4   0.4   0.4                                 Dextrose 9.9     9.9     9.9   9.9   9.9   9.9                                 Monohydrate                                                                    Peppermint                                                                              0.9     0.9     0.09  0.9   0.9   0.9                                 Flavor                                                                         Cuphea oil                                                                              0.05    0.10    0.25  0.50  1.0   2.0                                 ______________________________________                                    

Examples 13-18 are the same as Examples 7-12 except that Cuphea oil is pre-blended with the peppermint flavor and added to the gum formulation.

The following Tables 4 through 11 give examples of gum formulations demonstrating formula variations in which Cuphea oil, in the form of liquid oil, can be used.

Examples 19-23 in Table 4 demonstrate the use of Cuphea oil in low-moisture sugar formulations having less than 2% theoretical moisture:

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 19 Ex. 20  Ex. 21   Ex. 22 Ex. 23                                   ______________________________________                                         Sugar    58.75    58.6    58.3   52.7   51.9                                   Gum Base 19.2     19.2    19.2   19.2   19.2                                   Corn Syrup.sup.a                                                                        6.0      6.0     6.0    6.0    6.0                                    Dextrose 10.0     10.0    10.0   10.0   10.0                                   Monohydrate                                                                    Lactose  0.0      0.0     0.0    5.0    5.0                                    Glycerin.sup.b                                                                          5.0      5.0     5.0    5.0    5.0                                    Flavor   0.9      0.9     0.9.sup.d                                                                             0.9.sup.d                                                                             0.9.sup.d                              Lecithin.sup.c                                                                          0.1      0.1     0.1    0.2    --                                     Cuphea Oil.sup.c                                                                        0.05     0.2     0.5.sup.d                                                                             1.0.sup.d                                                                             2.0.sup.d                              ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Corn syrup is evaporated to 85% solids, 15% moisture.                   .sup.b Glycerin and syrup can be blended and coevaporated.                     .sup.c Lecithin and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                              .sup.d Flavor and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                          

Examples 24-28 in Table 5 demonstrate the use of Cuphea oil in medium-moisture sugar formulations having about 2% to about 5% moisture.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 24 Ex. 25  Ex. 26   Ex. 27 Ex. 28                                   ______________________________________                                         Sugar    53.35    53.2    52.9   52.3   51.5                                   Gum Base 19.2     19.2    19.2   19.2   19.2                                   Corn Syrup.sup.a                                                                        15.0     15.0    15.0   15.0   15.0                                   Dextrose 10.0     10.0    10.0   10.0   10.0                                   Monohydrate                                                                    Glycerin.sup.b                                                                          1.4      1.4     1.4    1.4    1.4                                    Flavor   0.9.sup.d                                                                               0.9.sup.d                                                                              0.9.sup.d                                                                             0.9.sup.d                                                                             0.9.sup.d                              Lecithin.sup.c                                                                          0.1      0.1     0.1    0.2    --                                     Cuphea Oil.sup.c                                                                        0.05.sup.d                                                                              0.2.sup.d                                                                              0.5.sup.d                                                                             1.0.sup.d                                                                             2.0.sup.d                              ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Corn syrup is evaporated to 85% solids, 15% moisture.                   .sup.b Glycerin and syrup can be blended and coevaporated.                     .sup.c Cuphea oil and Lecithin can be preblended.                              .sup.d Flavor and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                          

Examples 29-33 in Table 6 demonstrate the use of Cuphea oil in high moisture sugar formulations having more than about 5% moisture.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 29                                                                               Ex. 30   Ex. 31   Ex. 32 Ex. 33                                   ______________________________________                                         Sugar    50.95   50.7     50.4   48.9   48.0                                   Gum Base 24.0    24.0     24.0   24.0   24.0                                   Corn Syrup                                                                              24.0    24.0     24.0   24.6   24.6                                   Glycerin 0.0     0.0      0.0    0.4    0.4                                    Flavor   1.0     1.0      1.0    1.0    1.0                                    Lecithin*                                                                               --      0.1      0.1    0.1    --                                     Cuphea oil                                                                              0.05    0.2      0.5    1.0    2.0                                    ______________________________________                                          *Lecithin and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                              

Examples 34-38 in Table 7 and Examples 39-48 in Tables 8 and 9 demonstrate the use of Cuphea oil in low- and high-moisture gums that are sugar-free. Low-moisture gums have less than about 2% moisture, and high-moisture gums have greater than 2% moisture.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 34                                                                               Ex. 35   Ex. 36   Ex. 37 Ex. 38                                   ______________________________________                                         Base     25.5    25.5     25.5   25.5   25.5                                   Sorbitol 50.85   50.7     50.5   50.0   48.0                                   Mannitol 12.0    12.0     12.0   12.0   13.0                                   Glycerin 10.0    10.0     10.0   10.0   10.0                                   Flavor   1.5     1.5      1.5    1.5    1.5                                    Lecithin*                                                                               0.1     0.1      --     --     --                                     Cuphea oil                                                                              0.05    0.2      0.5    1.0    2.0                                    ______________________________________                                          *Lecithin and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                                    **Flavor and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                               

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 39                                                                               Ex. 40   Ex. 41   Ex 42  Ex. 43                                   ______________________________________                                         Base     25.5    25.5     25.5   25.5   25.5                                   Sorbitol 50.95   50.8     50.5   51.9   49.8                                   Sorbitol 10.0    10.0     10.0   10.0   11.0                                   Liquid*                                                                        Mannitol 10.0    10.0     10.0   10.0   10.0                                   Glycerin 2.0     2.0      2.0    0.0    0.0                                    Flavor   1.5     1.5      1.5    1.5    1.5                                    Lecithin**                                                                              --      --       --     0.1    0.2                                    Cuphea oil                                                                              0.05    0.2      0.5    1.0    2.0                                    ______________________________________                                          *Sorbitol liquid contains 70% sorbitol, 30% water.                             **Lecithin and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                                   ***Flavor and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                              

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                                Ex. 44                                                                               Ex. 45   Ex. 46   Ex. 47 Ex. 48                                   ______________________________________                                         Base     25.5    25.5     25.5   25.5   25.5                                   Sorbitol 50.95   50.7     50.4   52.0   51.0                                   HSH Syrup*                                                                              10.0    10.0     10.0   10.0   10.0                                   Mannitol 8.0     8.0      5.0    8.0    9.0                                    Glycerin**                                                                              4.0     4.0      4.0    2.0    1.0                                    Flavor   1.5     1.5      1.5    1.5    1.5                                    Lecithin***                                                                             --      0.1      0.1    --     --                                     Cuphea oil****                                                                          0.05    0.2      0.5    1.0    2.0                                    ______________________________________                                          *Lycasin brand hydrogenated starch hydrolyzate syrup.                          **Glycerin and HSH syrup may be blended or coevaporated.                       ***Lecithin and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                                  ****Flavor and Cuphea oil can be preblended.                             

Table 10 shows sugar chewing gum formulations that can be made with Cuphea oil and various types of sugars.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                                  Ex. 49  Ex. 50  Ex. 51                                                                               Ex. 52                                                                               Ex. 53                                                                               Ex. 54                              ______________________________________                                         Gum Base 19.2    19.2    19.2  19.2  19.2  19.2                                Sucrose  49.4    48.5    44.4  43.5  34.4  43.5                                Glycerin 1.4     1.4     1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4                                 Corn Syrup                                                                              14.0    14.0    14.0  14.0  14.0  14.0                                Dextrose 5.0     5.0     --    --    10.0  5.0                                 Lactose  5.0     5.0     10.0  10.0  --    --                                  Fructose 5.0     5.0     10.0  10.0  10.0  5.0                                 Invert Sugar                                                                            --      --      --    --    10.0  10.0                                Maltose  --      --      --    --    --    --                                  Corn Syrup                                                                              --      --      --    --    --                                        Solids                                                                         Peppermint                                                                              0.9     0.9     0.9   0.9   0.9   0.9                                 Flavor                                                                         Cuphea oil                                                                              0.1     1.0     0.1   1.0   0.1   1.0                                 ______________________________________                                                  Ex. 55  Ex. 56  Ex. 57                                                                               Ex. 58                                                                               Ex. 59                                                                               Ex. 60                              ______________________________________                                         Gum Base 19.2    19.2    19.2  19.2  19.2  19.2                                Sucrose  34.4    43.5    34.4  43.5  42.4  46.5                                Glycerin 1.4     1.4     1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4                                 Corn Syrup                                                                              14.0    14.0    14.0  14.0  11.0  11.0                                Dextrose 10.0    5.0     10.0  5.0   10.0  5.0                                 Lactose  --      --      --    --    --    --                                  Fructose 10.0    5.0     10.0  5.0   5.0   5.0                                 Invert Sugar                                                                            10.0    10.0    --    --    5.0   5.0                                 Maltose  --      --      10.0  10.0  --    --                                  Corn Syrup                                                                              --      --      --    --    5.0   5.0                                 Solids                                                                         Peppermint                                                                              0.9     0.9     0.9   0.9   0.9   0.9                                 Flavor                                                                         Cuphea oil                                                                              0.1     1.0     0.1   1.0   0.1   1.0                                 ______________________________________                                                                 Ex.61    Ex. 62                                        ______________________________________                                                        Gum Base 19.2     19.2                                                         Sucrose  42.4     36.5                                                         Glycerin 6.4      6.4                                                          Corn Syrup                                                                              11.0     11.0                                                         Dextrose 5.0      5.0                                                          Lactose                                                                        Fructose 5.0      5.0                                                          Invert Sugar                                                                            5.0      5.0                                                          Maltose  --       --                                                           Corn Syrup                                                                              5.0*     10.0*                                                        Solids                                                                         Peppermint                                                                              0.9      0.9                                                          Flavor                                                                         Cuphea oil                                                                              0.1      1.0                                           ______________________________________                                          *5-25DE maltodextrin can be used.                                        

Table 11 shows chewing gum formulations that are free of sugar. These formulations can use a wide variety of other non-sugar alditols.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         (WEIGHT PERCENT)                                                               ______________________________________                                                  Ex. 63  Ex. 64  Ex. 65                                                                               Ex. 66                                                                               Ex. 67                                                                               Ex. 68                              ______________________________________                                         Gum Base 25.5    25.5    25.5  25.5  25.5  25.5                                Glycerin 2.0     2.0     2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0                                 Sorbitol 43.9    43.0    43.9  38.0  37.9  39.0                                Mannitol --      10.0    10.0  10.0  10.0  6.0                                 Sorbitol 17.0    17.0    --    --    --    --                                  Liquid                                                                         Lycasin  --      --      17.0  12.0  8.0   10.0                                Maltitol 10.0    --      --    10.0  --    --                                  Xylitol  --      --      --    --    15.0  15.0                                Lactitol --      --      --    --    --    --                                  Palatinit                                                                               --      --      --    --    --    --                                  Flavor   1.5     1.5     1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5                                 Cuphea oil                                                                              0.1     1.0     0.1   1.0   0.1   1.0                                 ______________________________________                                                  Ex. 69  Ex. 70  Ex. 71                                                                               Ex. 72                                                                               Ex. 73                                                                               Ex. 74                              ______________________________________                                         Gum Base 25.5    25.5    25.5  25.5  25.5  25.5                                Glycerin 8.0     8.0     8.0   2.0   1.0   0.0                                 Sorbitol 41.9    36.0    31.9  40.0  26.9  21.0                                Mannitol 8.0     8.0     8.0   --    --    --                                  Sorbitol 5.0     --      --    --    --    --                                  Liquid                                                                         Lycasin  --      5.0     5.0   5.0   10.0  10.0                                Maltitol --      5.0     --    --    --    --                                  Xylitol  --      --      --    15.0  10.0  20.0                                Lactitol 10.0    10.0    10.0  --    --    --                                  Palatinit                                                                               --      --      10.0  10.0  25.0  21.0                                Flavor   1.5     1.5     1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5                                 Cuphea oil                                                                              0.1     1.0     0.1   1.0   0.1   1.0                                 ______________________________________                                    

The following examples of the invention are also shown in Table 12 for natural and synthetic gum bases with wax, Table 13 for chewing gun bases that are wax-free and have some reduced tack properties, Table 14 for wax free bubble gum bases, and Table 15 for wax-free gum bases having non-tack characteristics. These examples illustrate how Cuphea oil can be added to a wide variety of chewing gum bases to partially replace some of the oils, fats, and base softeners.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC BASES WITH WAX                                           (WEIGHT PERCENT)                                                               ______________________________________                                                            Ex. 75   Ex. 76  Ex. 77                                     ______________________________________                                         Butyl Rubber       11.7     10.0    9.0                                        Styrene Butadiene Rubber                                                                          --       --      --                                         Polyisobutylene    --       10.4    5.3                                        Jelutong           --       --      --                                         Ester Gum          14.8     --      --                                         Terpene Resin      9.9      6.8     16.7                                       Low MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                           21.2     23.2    24.6                                       High MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                          --       --      --                                         Talc               --       --      --                                         Calcium Carbonate  11.2     14.7    20.1                                       Acetylated Monoglyceride                                                                          --       --      --                                         Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil                                                                      --       10.0    3.3                                        Hydrogenated Soybean Oil                                                                          9.0      11.1    3.3                                        Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and                                                                --       2.3     --                                         Palm Oil                                                                       Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil                                                             --       --      --                                         Cuphea oil         5.7      4.3     4.2                                        Lecithin           2.7      --      0.8                                        Glycerol Monostearate                                                                             4.8      4.1     4.2                                        Triacetin          --       --      --                                         Microcrystalline Wax (MP 180° F.)                                                          6.0      3.1     8.5                                        Paraffin Wax (MP 135° F.)                                                                  3.0      --       --                                                           100.0    100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                         BUBBLE BASES                                                                                      Ex. 78   Ex. 79  Ex. 80                                     ______________________________________                                         Butyl Rubber       --       --      2.5                                        Styrene Butadiene Rubber                                                                          10.3     1.6     --                                         Polyisobutylene    --       9.1     9.0                                        Jelutong           --       --      --                                         Ester Gum          24.7     22.5    15.0                                       Terpene Resin      --       --      --                                         Low MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                           --       --      --                                         High MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                          --       30.0    24.1                                       Talc               --       --      25.4                                       Calcium Carbonate  56.8     21.7    --                                         Acetylated Monoglyceride                                                                          --       --      4.0                                        Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil                                                                      1.5      --      --                                         Hydrogenated Soybean Oil                                                                          --       --      --                                         Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and                                                                --       2.0     --                                         Palm Oil                                                                       Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil                                                             --       --      --                                         Cuphea oil         1.5      1.5     2.0                                        Lecithin           --       --      1.5                                        Glycerol Monostearate                                                                             1.1      --      7.1                                        Triacetin          --       4.5     3.2                                        Microcrystalline Wax MP 180° F.)                                                           --       --      1.2                                        Paraffin Wax (MP 135° F.)                                                                  4.1      7.1     5.0                                                           100.0    100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                                            Ex. 81   Ex. 82  Ex. 83                                     ______________________________________                                         Butyl Rubber       6.8      6.8     8.8                                        Styrene Butadiene Rubber                                                                          --       --      --                                         Polyisobutylene    3.0      3.2     4.1                                        Jelutong           21.1     18.2    4.0                                        Ester Gum          16.7     16.6    --                                         Terpene Resin      --       --      17.3                                       Low MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                           16.6     16.1    25.0                                       High MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                          --       --      --                                         Talc               --       --      18.1                                       Calcium Carbonate  13.2     19.7    --                                         Acetylated Monoglyceride                                                                          --       --      --                                         Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil                                                                      2.3      --      4.5                                        Hydrogenated Soybean Oil                                                                          --       3.2     2.7                                        Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and                                                                --       --      --                                         Palm Oil                                                                       Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil                                                             --       2.0     --                                         Cuphea oil         3.0      1.8     3.3                                        Lecithin           --       --      --                                         Glycerol Monostearate                                                                             2.1      4.5     4.1                                        Triacetin          --       --      --                                         Microcrystalline Wax (MP 180° F.)                                                          15.2     6.8     6.1                                        Paraffin Wax (MP 135° F.)                                                                  --        1.1    2.0                                                           100.0    100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                                            Ex. 84                                                                         Bubble                                                                         Base     Ex. 85  Ex. 86                                     ______________________________________                                         Butyl Rubber       --       9.1     9.3                                        Styrene Butadiene Rubber                                                                          --       --      --                                         Polyisobutylene    8.0      3.5     10.5                                       Jelutong           --       3.1     --                                         Ester Gum          14.7     1.5     --                                         Terpene Resin      --       15.0    13.0                                       Low MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                           --       22.8    23.0                                       High MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                          34.5     --      --                                         Talc               28.6     --      --                                         Calcium Carbonate  --       23.0    14.9                                       Acetylated Monoglyceride                                                                          2.5      --      --                                         Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil                                                                      --       4.6     8.0                                        Hydrogenated Soybean Oil                                                                          --       2.9     5.2                                        Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and                                                                --       --      3.1                                        Palm Oil                                                                       Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil                                                             --       --      1.5                                        Cuphea oil         0.9      2.4     2.1                                        Lecithin           --       0.8     --                                         Glycerol Monostearate                                                                             4.4      2.8     4.5                                        Triacetin          4.6      --      --                                         Microcrystalline Wax (MP 180° F.)                                                          --       7.0     4.4                                        Paraffin Wax (MP 135° F.)                                                                  1.8      1.5     0.5                                                           100.0    100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                                                             Ex. 89                                                                         Bubble                                                        Ex. 87   Ex. 88  Base                                       ______________________________________                                         Butyl Rubber       6.1      8.1     --                                         Styrene Butadiene Rubber                                                                          --       --      6.0                                        Polyisobutylene    7.1      5.5     7.5                                        Jelutong           --       --      --                                         Ester Gum          --       7.1     12.2                                       Terpene Resin      14.1     7.1     --                                         Low MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                           28.1     22.2    --                                         High MW Polyvinylacetate                                                                          --       --      29.0                                       Talc               --       --      28.9                                       Calcium Carbonate  18.9     25.6    --                                         Acetylated Monoglyceride                                                                          --       --      3.7                                        Hydrogenated Cotton Seed Oil                                                                      10.1     13.2    2.7                                        Hydrogenated Soybean Oil                                                                          5.1      5.1     --                                         Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and                                                                --       --      --                                         Palm Oil                                                                       Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil                                                             --       --      --                                         Cuphea oil         4.1      4.1     1.3                                        Lecithin           0.7      0.5     --                                         Glycerol Monostearate                                                                             1.5      1.5     3.1                                        Triacetin          --       --      1.2                                        Microcrystalline Wax (MP 180° F.)                                                          3.1      --      4.4                                        Paraffin Wax (MP 135° F.)                                                                  1.1      --       --                                                           100.0    100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM                                      HAVING SOME REDUCED TACK CHARACTERISTICS                                       (EXAMPLES 90-119)                                                              ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 90-94                                                                                 IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              90     91     92   93   94                                   ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE 5.3    --     2.1  1.8  --                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  8.6    7.9    7.2  --   8.1                                  ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   7.1    --     7.4  24.8 3.6                                  ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 10.5   27.2   15.3 10.1 27.3                                 **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         2.1    --     19.0 3.7  --                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          4.3    18.2   --   7.9  --                                   HYD ROSIN                                                                      TERPENE RESINS    10.8   --     --   7.1  26.8                                 **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE --     15.9   20.7 17.7 11.4                                 TALC              25.5   --     --   --   --                                   **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --     6.0    --   7.0  --                                   OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         4.3    --     6.1  --   --                                   PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           3.3    --     6.0  --   9.1                                  SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --     5.3    --   7.0  --                                   COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        7.7    11.3   12.2 7.0  5.2                                  GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            8.2    7.4    4.0  3.5  4.8                                  LECITHIN          2.3    0.8    --    2.4 3.7                                  TOTAL PERCENT     100.0  100.0  100.0                                                                               100.0                                                                               100.0                                ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 95-97                                                                                 IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              95        96     97                                          ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE 5.2       2.1    5.9                                         ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  4.1       7.2    6.9                                         ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   5.9       7.3    2.0                                         ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 25.7      15.3   24.8                                        **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         23.5      19.1   8.6                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          --        --     8.0                                         HYD ROSIN                                                                      TERPENE RESINS    3.2       --     1.9                                         **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE 15.1      20.7   9.9                                         TALC              --        --     7.2                                         **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --        --     7.0                                         OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         --        --     --                                          PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           5.5       8.3    10.1                                        SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           3.0       9.6    --                                          COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        3.7       6.4    4.0                                         GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            5.1       4.0    3.7                                         LECITHIN          --         --     --                                         TOTAL PERCENT     100.0     100.0  100.0                                       ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 98-101                                                                                IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              98      99      100   101                                    ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE 3.9     2.1     --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  5.3     6.0     8.9   3.6                                    ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   12.7    8.5     10.0  11.1                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 14.9    15.3    21.3  21.9                                   **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         --      10.1    --    19.6                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          --      8.9     --    11.2                                   HYD ROSIN                                                                      TERPENE RESINS    21.4    --      9.7   3.7                                    **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE 13.7    20.9    21.5  6.4                                    TALC              1.4     --      --    --                                     **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --      4.2     --    5.0                                    OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         1.7     --      5.0   --                                     PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --      --      --    10                                     SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --      --      15.0  --                                     COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        17.0    20.0    3.2   4.2                                    GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            5.7     4.0     5.4   3.3                                    LECITHIN          2.3     --       --    --                                    TOTAL PERCENT     100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 102-106                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              102    103    104  105  106                                  ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE --     3.2    4.1  --   --                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  7.4    7.3    11.3 10.0 8.3                                  ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   1.9    7.5    7.9  1.9  3.6                                  ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 24.8   21.1   18.2 27.6 27.5                                 **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         --     15.3   --   --   --                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          --     2.4    26.2 --   --                                   HYD ROSIN                                                                      TERPENE RESINS    25.8   5.8    1.4  25.3 25.3                                 **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE 18.6   --     13.6 11.3 11.3                                 TALC              --     14.8   --   --   --                                   **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          2.0    4.4    1.2  --   --                                   OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         --     --     --   2.4  4.0                                  PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --     4.0    --   --   4.2                                  SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --     --     --   --   --                                   COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        10.3   11.4   7.0  13.0 8.3                                  GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            4.4    2.8    5.2  4.8  4.8                                  LECITHIN          4.8    --      3.9 3.7  2.7                                  TOTAL PERCENT     100.0  100.0  100.0                                                                               100.0                                                                               100.0                                ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 107-110                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              107     108     109   110                                    ______________________________________                                         **NATURAL ELASTOMER**                                                          NATURAL GUM       22.0    25.1    22.8  17.6                                   **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE --      1.9     2.6   --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  4.8     2.1     4.1   10.2                                   ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   5.7     4.7     3.2   2.1                                    ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 16.4    24.8    16.3  26.9                                   **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         3.8     3.2     6.9   11.3                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          12.3    12.6    11.8  4.8                                    HYD ROSIN                                                                      METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --      2.1     1.7   --                                     TERPENE RESINS    --      --      --    --                                     **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE --      4.4     9.3   --                                     TALC              7.1     --      --    4.6                                    **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --      --      10.0  --                                     OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         5.0     --      --    5.6                                    PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           11.0    12.0    3.7   5.0                                    SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           5.0     --      --    --                                     COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        0.8     0.6     4.5   5.6                                    GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            6.1     3.8     --    6.3                                    LECITHIN          --       2.7    3.1   --                                     TOTAL PERCENT     100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 111-114                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              111     112     113   114                                    ______________________________________                                         **NATURAL ELASTOMER**                                                          NATURAL GUM       15.7    22.6    22.2  21.1                                   **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE 1.9     --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  3.7     5.8     5.7   6.1                                    ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   4.1     3.1     3.1   2.8                                    ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 26.2    20.4    22.0  18.0                                   **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         --      --      --    15.7                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          15.3    11.7    15.2  --                                     HYD ROSIN                                                                      METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           --      4.0     --    --                                     TERPENE RESINS    --      --      --    --                                     **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE 12.2    11.6    11.4  --                                     TALC              --      --      --    15.4                                   **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --      2.0     --    9.1                                    OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         3.0     --      6.2   --                                     PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --      15.0    --    --                                     SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           12.0    --      6.0   --                                     COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        0.1     0.5     4.9   6.0                                    GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            5.8     3.3     3.3   5.8                                    LECITHIN          --       --      --    --                                    TOTAL PERCENT     100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 115-119                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              115    116    117  118  119                                  ______________________________________                                         **NATURAL ELASTOMER**                                                          NATURAL GUM       23.8   18.7   14.4 18.2 25.2                                 **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        STYRENE-BUTADIENE --     --     --   --   --                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      BUTYL (ISOPRENE-  3.1    6.0    9.1  6.8  2.4                                  ISOBUTYLENE) ELASTOMER                                                         POLYISOBUTYLENE   7.7    5.5    3.6  5.4  4.9                                  ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 20.5   14.8   18.1 15.5 19.9                                 **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         --     --     11.9 --   15.6                                 GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          10.4   15.5   13.0 12.7 --                                   HYD ROSIN                                                                      METHYL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                           2.0    --     --   2.6  --                                   TERPENE RESINS    5.1    --     --   --   2.1                                  **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE --     18.8   14.1 15.7 --                                   TALC              5.3    --     --   --   7.1                                  **SOFTENER**                                                                   HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED                                                                          --     6.5    7.0  --   --                                   OIL                                                                            HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL                                                                         7.9    --     --   5.0  10.0                                 PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --     --     2.0  --   --                                   SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL                                                           PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED                                                                           --     --     --   6.0  --                                   COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 CUPHEA OIL        7.9    6.5    6.8  5.0  8.4                                  GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            6.3    7.7    --   7.1  4.4                                  LECITHIN          --      --     --  --    --                                  TOTAL PERCENT     100.0  100.0  100.0                                                                               100.0                                                                               100.0                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN BUBBLE GUM                                       (EXAMPLES 120-128)                                                             ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 120-123                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              120     121     122   123                                    ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        POLYISOBUTYLENE   17.1    11.7    11.6  5.4                                    ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 24.9    29.4    31.5  34.8                                   **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         6.8     10.7    19.8  16.3                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          --      --      --    --                                     HYD ROSIN                                                                      **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE --      --      --    30.2                                   TALC              34.7    34.1    21.9  --                                     **SOFTENER**                                                                   CUPHEA OIL        1.1     3.4     3.0   2.0                                    GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                              4.6     4.4     5.0   5.3                                    GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            5.8     4.3     4.9   3.9                                    ACETYLATED        5.0     2.0     2.3   2.1                                    MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                  TOTAL PERCENT     100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 124-128                                                                               IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                    GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                              124    125    126  127  128                                  ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC ELASTOMER**                                                        POLYISOBUTYLENE   7.9    13.0   7.9  11.6 11.8                                 ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYVINYL ACETATE 34.2   37.1   34.2 37.8 35.6                                 **ELASTOMER PLASTICIZERS**                                                     GLYCEROL ESTERS OF ROSIN                                                                         14.8   --     --   --   --                                   GLYCEROL ESTERS OF PART                                                                          --     19.8   14.8 19.8 19.8                                 HYD ROSIN                                                                      **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE 29.8   16.5   29.8 --   --                                   TALC              --     --     --   17.0 19.7                                 **SOFTENER**                                                                   CUPHEA OIL        1.0    1.5    1.0  2.6  0.8                                  GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                              5.3    5.6    4.3  3.0  4.0                                  GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE                                                                            4.0    6.5    5.0  3.2  2.3                                  ACETYLATED        3.0    --      3.0 5.0  6.0                                  MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                  TOTAL PERCENT     100.0  100.0  100.0                                                                               100.0                                                                               100.0                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM                                      HAVING NON-TACK CHARACTERISTICS                                                (EXAMPLES 129-140)                                                             ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 129-140                                                                            IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                       GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                           129    130    131  132  133  134                                ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC                                                                    ELASTOMER**                                                                    BUTYL (ISOPRENE-                                                                              --     --     --   25.0 9.0  14.1                               ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYISOBUTYLENE                                                                               35.0   17.0   20.0 --   16.9 12.1                               POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                             --     17.0   30.0 5.0  22.8 20.8                               **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                             25.0   40.0   5.0  25.0 --   13.9                               TALC           --     --     --   --   12.0 --                                 **SOFTENERS**                                                                  HYDROGENATED   5.0    --     15.0 --   14.8 7.7                                SOYBEAN OIL                                                                    HYDROGENATED   3.0    8.0    --   15.0 14.0 10.0                               COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 PARTIALLY HYDRO-                                                                              20.0   2.0    --   15.0 --   7.0                                GENATED SOYBEAN                                                                AND PALM OIL                                                                   PARTIALLY HYDRO-                                                                              --     3.0    10.0 2.0  --   6.7                                GENATED COTTONSEED                                                             OIL                                                                            CUPHEA OIL     2.0    5.0    5.0  8.0  8.8  4.0                                GLYCEROL       10.0   --     5.0  5.0  1.7  3.7                                MONOSTEARATE                                                                   LECITHIN       --     8.0    --   --   --   --                                 ______________________________________                                         EXAMPLES 135-140                                                                            IDENTIFICATION -                                                               EXAMPLES #:                                                       GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                           135    136    137  138  139  140                                ______________________________________                                         **SYNTHETIC                                                                    ELASTOMER**                                                                    BUTYL (ISOPRENE-                                                                              16.0   9.9    9.9  10.0 10.0 13.3                               ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                   ELASTOMER                                                                      POLYISOBUTYLENE                                                                               10.0   15.5   15.5 15.9 15.9 21.2                               POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                             14.0   22.0   22.0 21.7 21.6 29.1                               **FILLER**                                                                     CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                             5.0    12.9   12.9 13.3 --   17.7                               TALC           10.0   --     --   --   13.1 --                                 **SOFTENERS**                                                                  HYDROGENATED   --     14.0   9.0  3.3  13.5 6.1                                SOYBEAN OIL                                                                    HYDROGENATED   --     13.0   13.0 3.3  13.5 6.1                                COTTONSEED OIL                                                                 PARTIALLY HYDRO-                                                                              6.0    --     10.0 --   3.0  2.0                                GENATED SOYBEAN                                                                AND PALM OIL                                                                   PARTIALLY HYDRO-                                                                              --     --     --   9.8  --   --                                 GENATED COTTONSEED                                                             OIL                                                                            CUPHEA OIL     32.0   10.0   5.0  20.0 6.8  3.2                                GLYCEROL       2.0    2.7    1.7  2.7  2.6  1.3                                MONOSTEARATE                                                                   LECITHIN       --     --     1.0  --   --   --                                 ______________________________________                                    

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A gum base for manufacturing chewing gum comprising:an elastomer; and at least 0.02% by weight of seed oil from plant genus Cuphea.
 2. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the base is wax-free.
 3. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the base is non-tacky.
 4. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the base is a bubble gum-type base.
 5. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the seed oil is blended with at least one other base component chosen from the group consisting of fats, oils and emulsifiers before it is added to the elastomer.
 6. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the gum base does not include any non structured lipid saturated fats.
 7. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the seed oil comprises not more than 40% by weight of the base.
 8. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the seed oil includes only caprylic and capric fatty acids.
 9. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the seed oil includes fatty acids in addition to capric and caprylic fatty acids.
 10. The gum base of claim 1 wherein the seed oil is obtained from a Cuphea plant chosen from the species of C.painteri; C.hookeriana; C.cyanea; and C.palustris.
 11. A chewing gum formulation comprising:an insoluble gum base; a water soluble portion; a flavor; and at least 0.01% by weight of the seed oil from the plant genus Cuphea as a plasticizer.
 12. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 including at least one softener chosen from the group consisting of: tallow; hydrogenated tallow; hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils; cocoa butter; glycerol monostearate; glycerol triacetate; and lecithin.
 13. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the seed oil comprise not more than 5% by weight of the chewing gum formulation.
 14. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the seed oil is preblended with a softener before being added to the insoluble gum base.
 15. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the seed oil is preblended with a flavor or color before it is added to the insoluble gum base.
 16. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes a bulk sweetener.
 17. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes a high intensity sweetener.
 18. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes an emulsifier.
 19. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes an elastomer plasticizer.
 20. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes an elastomer.
 21. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the formulation includes lecithin.
 22. The chewing gum formulation of claim 11 wherein the seed oil is obtained from a Cuphea plant chosen from the species of C.painteri; C.hookeriana; C.cyanea; and C.palustris.
 23. A method for producing chewing gum comprising the step of substituting for a typical plasticizer, in a chewing gum formulation, the seed oil from the plant genus Cuphea.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the seed oil comprises approximately 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the chewing gum formulation.
 25. A method for producing gum base to be used in manufacturing chewing gum comprising the step of using seed oil from the plant genus Cuphea in a gum base formulation as a substitute for at least a portion of conventional saturated triglycerides that are typically used in gum base. 